Rapa Nui

Rapa Nui

The island of Rapa Nui or Easter island is famous for the large stone statues known as moai built by the native polynesian inhabitants of the island. Constructed from the 10th to the 16th century, these large stone figures were carved from volcanic stone and were shaped to represent important ancestors and chiefs of the island. With an average height of 13 feet and weighing 14 tons the statues were transported throughout the island and positioned upon large stone ceremonial platforms known as ahus.
In 2017 and 2019 CyArk collaborated with the managers of Rapa Nui National Park, Ma'u Henua and the Chilean National Monuments Commission (Secretaria Tecnica de Patrimonio Rapa Nui) for the emergency documentation of priority monuments within the park. Several of the ahus are being affected by erosion especially following severe weather events and our work will be used to inform the ongoing conservation and management of the sites.